Irish channel Tara to shutter

Service $20 million in debt

LONDON — Tara TV, the niche cable and satellite channel that broadcasts Irish programming in the U.K., is closing down.

The service, a joint venture set up in 1997 between United Pan-Europe Communications (80%) and Irish pubcaster RTE (20%), has accumulated £14 million ($20 million) in debt and is expected to shutter in April.

RTE said it regretted the closure, but that “there was no viable business plan for the future.”